Water-column.



No. 885,165. PATENTED APR. ,21, 1908. K. MANSFIELD.

WATER COLUMN.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 21, 1906.

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A. K. MANSFIELD. WATER COLUMN.

APPLIGATION FILED JULY 21, 1906.

PATENTED APR 21, 1908.

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Men/Z07 ALBERT K. MANSFIELD, OF BA'IAVIA, ILLINOIS.

WATER-COLUMN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 21, 1908.

Application filed July 21, 1906. Serial No. 327,134.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERTK. MANSFIELD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Batavia, county of Kane, State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Water-Columns, and declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates in general to water columns and more particularly to water 001- umns adapted to be located adjacent a railroad track to supply water to the tenders of locomotives.

Railroad water columns as usually constructed comprise a vertical stand-pipe to the upper end of which is connected a laterally projecting delivery-pipe adapted to bev swung vertically into and out of position to supply water to a locomotive tender.

When the stand-pipe and delivery-pipe are connected by a pair of elbows pivotally jointed together so that they will revolve relative to each other on a horizontal axis, the joint faces being in a vertical plane, then the flow of water, which makes two quarter turns, one in a vertical plane and the other in a horizontal plane, tends to cause the stand-pipe to revolve about its vertical axis due to the reaction or centrifugal force of the water while making its horizontal turn. In addition to this the reaction at the delivery end of the spout due to the one quarter turn tends to throw the spout upward. This well known construction employing a double elbow at the joint permits the use of a simple, cylindrical packed joint but introduces in addition to the objection named, the further objection that the flow of water is retarded because of the double turn; and furthermore introduces the expense of a double fitting.

The primary object of my invention is to provide a joint between the stand-pipe and the delivery-pipe of a water column which will permit the delivery-pipe to be readily swung relatively to the stand-pipe, which will at all times be fluid tight, which will not be so worn by usage as to permit leakage, and in which water will not accumulate to freeze and thereby interfere with the movement of the delivery-pipe.

A further object of my invention is to provide a joint between the stand-pipe and the vide between the vertical stand pipe and the laterally projecting delivery pipe of a water column a simple and eflicient joint which may be conveniently and effectively packed, and which will permit the free end of the delivery pipe to be raised or lowered without producing an objectionable variation in the direction of the stream discharged from said delivery pipe.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a railroad water-column which will be simple in construction, comparatively inexpensive in manufacture, and efficient in operation.

The embodiment of my invention herein disclosed may be generally described as comprising a vertical stand-pipe, a laterally projecting delivery pipe pivotally connected to the top of the stand-pipe by a joint the plane of which is inclined to and intersects the axial line of the delivery-pipe, a counter balance for the delivery-pipe, a water-supply valve controlled by hydraulic pressure, a spring for imparting to said valve an initial closing movement, and means controlled by the valve to ermit water to drain from the stand-pipe w en the valve is closed.

My invention will be more fully described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings in Which the same is illustrated as embodied in a convenient and practical form, and in which Figure 1 is a side elevational view, partly in section; Fig. 2 an elevational view of the opposite side of the united portions of the stand-pipe, and delivery pipe; Fig. 3 an enlarged sectional view of the water-supply valve; Fig. 4 a sectional view on line 44 Fig. 5; Fig. 5 a sectional view on line 55 Fig. .4; and Fig. 6 an enlarged sectional view through the joint uniting the elbow and the delivery pipe.

Thesame reference characters are used to designate the same parts in the several figures of the drawings.

Reference letter A indicates a water-supply pipe extending into a pit A and is rotatably supported upon the casing of the supply valve.

A indicates a stand mounted upon the top a of the pit and surrounding the stand-pipe. Antifriction-balls are preferably interposed between the top of the stand A and a collar a on the stand-pipe.

e indicates a lever for rotating the stand- 1 e. p At the upper end of the stand-pipe is an elbow D which forms a continuation of the stand-pipe while its laterally projecting portion is connected to a delivery pipe E. The elbow and delivery-pipe are united by a joint so that the delivery-pipe may rotate relatively to the elbow in a plane intersecting and inclined to an axial line of the deliverypipe. The joint is formed by means of a circular flange d fixed to and surrounding the end of the elbow and engaging a circular flange (2 around the end of the delivery-pipe. The outer edge of the flange d is provided with a ring (1 which surrounds the flange e. Secured to the flange d adjacent the ring (1 is a clamp ring D which clamps between the same and the flange d a hydraulic cup-shaped packing d. The packing d, is preferably made of rubber inasmuch as rubber tends to cling to the adjacent surfaces and is not shriveled by the weather. Rubber is further preferable as it requires no shaping, its elasticity permitting the packing to conform to the surfaces between which it is interposed. Between the ring E on the flange e and the clamp ring D is a washer e preferably made of brass to prevent rusting, while a suitable packing 6 also preferably made of brass angular in cross-section is interposed between the flange e on the end of the delivery pipe and the surrounding rings (Z and D on the end of the elbow D.

In order that the united ends of the elbow and delivery-pipe may be retained in rotative engagement with each other plates D and D are secured to the ring (1 and overlie the outer surface of the flange 6. The plates D and D may be secured to the rings d in any suitable manner, as by means of screws.

In order that the weight of the deliverypipe may be counter-balanced a bracket E projects laterally from and is rigidly secured to the flange e from which depends a rod (2 carrying weights E The rotation of the delivery-pipe is limited by means of stops d, and d formed on the periphery of the ring (1 which are engaged by a lug e on the bracket E.

Pivotally mounted upon the delivery pipe is a lever F for operating the water-supply valve. A rod f connects the lever F with the upper arm of a bell-crank lever G. The

bell-crank lever is fixed u on a short shaft G journaled beneath the elbow D. A crank arm Gr corresponding to the lower arm of the bell-crank lever, is fixed to the end of the shaft G on the opposite side of the elbow. Rods g and g are pivotally connected to the lower arm of the bell-crank lever and the crank arm Gr respectively, and are connected at their lower ends on opposite sides of the stand-pipe to a collar H having a circumferential groove therein. The collar is fitted to slide vertically upon the stand-pipe and is engaged by a yoke at the end of a lever K, the latter being fulcrumed u )on a bracket 7: secured to the valve casing 5. Operatively connected with the end of the lever K is a rod K the lower end of which is pivotally connected to a bell-crank lever 76 fulcrumed upon a bracket 762. The bracket Z7 may conveniently project from a cap L secured to the outer surface of the head B of the valve casing.

Located within the cap L and controlling an exhaust-port therethrough is a valve L the stem Z of which projects through the cap and is adapted to be engaged by the bellcrank lever 7c to unseat the valve. A spring Z surrounding the valve stem normally seats the valve. A passage 1) is formed in the head B and connects the chamber in the 9.,

adjacent end of the valve casing with a port 6 leading to the interior of the cap L.

M designates a valve seat through which water is adapted to flow from the supply conduit A to the stand-pipe C. The seat M is provided with a flange projecting between the valve casing and the adjacent end of the coupling B to which the end. of the conduit A is connected. A tube M is supported at one end within a socket m carried concentrically within the valve-seat M. The opposite end of the tube M is supported within a flange m on the inner surface of the head B of the casing. The tube M alines with a passage B extending through the head B and communicating with the interior of the cap L.

N designates the valve for controlling the flow of water to the stand-pipe through cooperation with the valve-seat M. In order to insure a tight joint a gasket it is secured to the end of the valve by a clamping ring N. The valve N is mounted concentrically around the tube M and is supported thereon by a hub 01* and by a ring 72.. The ring a surrounds a series of ports m through the tube M and is adapted to open and close the same when the valve reciprocates upon the tube M.

N designates a piston located within a chamber of the valve casing adjacent the head B. The piston surrounds and is se cured to the reduced portion of the valve N within which is secured the ring a. Carried by the valve N is a ring 0 having a series of notches 0 in the edge thereof adjacent the inner surface of the piston N. A drain port P leads from the valve casing at a point intermediate of the piston N and the adjacent edge of the ring 0. 4

R designates a spring interposed between the piston N and the head B of the casing, the tension of which tends to seat the valve N.

The operation of my improved water column is as follows. The delivery-pipe E is swung into position relatively to the locomotive tender by applying an upward or downward pressure thereto. Pressure applied to the delivery-pipe rotates the flange e thereon with respect to the flange d on the end of the elbow D ofthe stand-pipe.- When the delivery-pipe has been swung into the desired position pressure is applied to the hand lever F which throughthe connecting rod f oscillates the bell-crank lever G thereby lifting the rods g and g and with them the collar H. The upward movement of the collar H oscillates the lever K which in turn oscillates the bell-crank lever 7r causing thelatter to engage the valve stem Z and unseat the valve L The unseating of the valve L permits the water to escape from the space intermediate of the piston N and casing head B through the passage 1), port '6 andexhaust passage Z of the cap L. The pressure of the water upon the valve N forces the latter towards the left in Fig. 3 thereby permitting the water to flow past the seat M" to the stand-pipe C. The water passes up-. wardly through the stand-pipe to the deliv-. ery-pipe E and thence to the tender of-the' locomotive. As the water in passing from the vertical to horizontal direction makes; only a quarter turn in a vertical plane there is no tendency to rotate the stand-pipe about its vertical axis. The tendency of the water passing through the delivery-pipe to lift the same relatively to the stand-pipe is reduced to a minimum owing to the pressure ofthe water forcing the packing d tightly against the packing-ring 6 When the water is out off there is no pressure forcing the packing (1 against the packing ring e and consequently the delivery-arm maybe readily turned rela tively to the stand-pipe.

When a sufficient quantity of Water has been delivered tothe tender the lever F is thrown downwardly to the position shown in Fig. 1 thereby forcing downwardly the collar H through the medium of the connecting rods and bell-crank lever. The downward movement of the collar oscillates the bellcrank 7c away from the valve stem Z thereby permitting the valve L to be seated by the tension of the spring Z. This movement of the valve L uncovers the end of the passage B so that water flows through the ports m into the tube M thence through the passage B port 6 and passage'b to the piston chamber. The area of the piston being greater than the area of the valve N exposed to the pressure of the Water, the piston and valve are moved towardsthe right so that the valve engages the seat M and cuts off the supply of water to the stand-pipe.

The spring R which is compressed by the through the port P leading from the space between the :piston F and ring O. Danger of water remaining in the stand-pipe is thereby avoided.

When the valve is open the notches in the ring 0 are covered so that access of the water to the drain port ceases. It will be noted that the large bearing surface afforded by the ring 0 serves materially to support and stiffen the valve.

It will be observed by reference to Fig. 5 that the upper end of the bell-crank lever G to which the end of the rod f is connected alines with the axis of rotation of the delivery-pipe E. The movement of the delivery- '1 pipe consequently does not effect in any wise the valve mechanism as the distance between'the hand lever F and bell-crank lever G remains constant in all positions of the delivery-pipe.

From the foregoing description it will be observed that I have invented an improved water-column the delivery-pipe of which is connected to the stand-pipe by a simple and practical joint, in which the water-supply valve is quickly closed, and in which the water remaining in the stand-pipe after the closing of the valve is efficiently drained.

It will be further observed that in my improved joint there is no surface which is alternately exposed to the water passing through the column, and alternatelycovered by a cooperating surface and consequently there is no danger of water freezing upon -a surface which must move relatively to another surface.

It will further be observed that, by reason of the peculiar construction and arrangement of the joint between the delivery pipe and the stand pipe, it is possible to manipulate the delivery pipe so as to raise and lower its outer end within the desired limits without seriously varying the direction of the stream which issues from the end of thedelivery pipe.

The ports m 7 Having now fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a water column, the combination with a vertical stand pipe, of an elbow secured to and forming part of said stand-pipe, a laterally projecting delivery pipe pivotally connected to said elbow by a joint, said joint comprising members relatively rotatable in a plane intersecting and inclined to the axial line of the delivery pipe and approximately parallel tothe axis of the stand pipe. 2. In a water column, the combination with a vertical stand pipe, of a laterally proj ecting delivery pipe, relatively rotatable cooperating flanges formed on the adjoining ends of said pipes, the engaged surfaces of said flanges being in a plane which intersects and is inclined to the axial line of one of said pipes and is approximately parallel to the axis of the vertical pipe, and means for uniting said flanges to permit relative rotary movement.

3. In a water column, the combination with a vertical stand pipe, of a laterally projecting delivery pipe pivotally connected to the stand pipe by a joint, said joint comprising members relatively rotatable in a plane intersecting and inclined to the axial line of said delivery pipe, and approximately parallel to the axis of the vertical pipe, means for limiting the movement of said delivery pipe relatively to said stand pipe, and means for balancing the weight of said delivery 1 e. p In a water-column, the combination with a vertical stand-pipe, of a laterally projecting delivery-pipe, relatively rotatable cooperating flanges on the adjoining ends of said pipes, the engaged surfaces of which are in a plane which intersects and is inclined to the axial line of said delivery-pipe, means for uniting said flanges to permit relative rotary movement, a bracket secured to the flange on said delivery pipe, and means connected to said bracket to counter-balance the weight of said delivery-pi e, a lug on said bracket, and stops on the ange of said stand-pipe located in the path of said lug to limit the movement of said delivery pipe.

5. In a water-column, the combination with a vertical stand-pipe, of a laterally proj ecting delivery-pipe, relatively rotatable cooperating flanges on the adjoining ends of said pipes, the engaged surfaces of which are in a plane which intersects and is inclined to the axial line of said delivery pipe and parallel to the axis of the vertical pipe, a ring on the periphery of one of said flanges, surrounding the other flange, and plates secured to said ring overlying the outer surface of the inclosed flange.

6. In a water-column, the combination with a vertical stand-pipe, of a laterally projecting delivery-pipe, pivotally connected to the stand-pipe by a joint comprising mem bers relatively rotatable in a plane intersecting and inclined to the axial line of said delivery pipe, valve mechanism for supplying water to said stand-pipe, a lever pivotally mounted upon said delivery-pipe, and operative connections interposed between said lever and said valve mechanism comprising means whereby the valve mechanism will be unaffected by the movement of the delivery pipe relatively to the stand-pipe.

7. In a water-column, the combination with a vertical stand-pipe, of a laterally projecting delivery pipe pivotally connected to the stand-pipe by a joint comprising members relatively rotatable in a plane intersecting and inclined to the axial line of said delivery pipe, valve mechanism for supplying water to said stand-pipe, a hand lever pivotally mounted upon the delivery pipe, a bellcrank lever pivoted to the stand-pipe, means connecting said bell-crank lever with said valve mechanism, and connecting means uniting said hand lever with said bell-crank lever at a point alining with the axis of rotation of the delivery-pipe relatively to the stand-pipe.

8. In a water column, the combination with a stand-pipe, of a laterally projecting delivery pipe pivotally connected to the stand pipe by a joint comprising members relatively rotatable in a plane intersecting and inclined to the axial line of one of said pipes and parallel with the axis of the other pipe, and means for automatically resisting the tendency of the reaction of the water to raise the delivery pipe.

9. In a water column, the combination with a vertical stand-pipe, of an elbow forming part of and having one end projecting laterally from said stand-pipe, the end of said elbow being cut away in a plane parallel to the vertical axis of the stand-pipe and at an angle of 45 de rees to the horizontal axis of the elbow, a delivery pipe having one end. adjacent the end of said elbow, a cylindrical packing between the end of the elbow and. the delivery pipe, and means for locking said elbow and said delivery pipe together so as to permit relative rotary movements.

10. In a water column, the combination with a vertical stand-pipe having an elbow forming part thereof and projecting laterally therefrom, the end of said elbow being cut away on a plane parallel to the vertical axis of the stand-pipe and at an angle of 45 degrees to the horizontal axis of the elbow, a delivery pipe having one end formed to engage with the end of the elbow, a cylindrical flange on the delivery pipe surrounding the end of the elbow and having its axis perpendicular to the plane of the end of the elbow, packing between said flange and the 10 grees to the elbow, and means for locking said elbow and said delivery pipe together so as to permit relative rotary movements.

11. In a Water column, the combination with a vertical stand-pipe having an elbow forming part thereof and projecting laterally therefrom, the end of said elbow being cut away on a plane parallel to the vertical axis of the standipe and at an angle of 45 deorizontal axis of the elbow, a delivery-pipe having one end abuttin against the end of the elbow a cylindrica packing between said elbow and said deivery-pi e and having its axis perpendicular to the p ane of the end of said e means for locking said elbow and said delivery pipe together so as to permit relative rotary movements.

In testimony whereof, I sign this specification in the presence of two Witnesses.

ALBERT K. MANSFIELD. Witnesses GEO. L. WILKINsoN, HARRY S. GAITHER.

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